Bob Pridden

English sound engineer

Bob Pridden

Born| 1946 (age 78-79)
Ickenham, London, England
Occupations|

* Audio engineer
* roadie
* record producer

Years active| 1966 – 2016

Musical artist

Bob Pridden (born 1946) is an English audio engineer, roadie, and record producer, best known for his long-standing position as principal sound engineer for the rock band the Who. He has also worked with a number of other rock musicians and with individual members of the Who on solo projects.[1]

## Biography

[edit]

Bob Pridden was born in 1946 in Ickenham, England, and married Lady Maria Noel.

Pridden grew up only a few miles from the West London neighbourhoods in which Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle lived. His first job was working with the John Barry Seven. He became a roadie for the Who after talking to John Wolff, then the bands main roadie and driver. He made his debut as roadie at a gig in Streatham, London on 15 December 1966, and was promoted to sound engineer in 1969. He has provided the stage mix for every Who concert ever since. According to Pete Townshend in 2007, Pridden and the rest of the band "all converged just before the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. So we have worked together for 40 years.",[2] although he missed the first two trips to the US, finally going for the Herman Hermits tour which started in July 1967.

## Career

[edit]

Pridden is commonly credited for having created on-stage "wedge" monitors in the late '60s; previously, onstage performers had no way to hear themselves singing, so during the 1968 American tour he began placing a speaker cabinet on its side in front of the band. However, the band preferred stage side monitors for a long period, so he helped to develop these with the WEM company, even loaning the bands stage PA to other acts at both the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. Pridden then requested a slanted speaker cabinet that sat on the floor and tilted upwards toward the performer. Since that time, onstage "wedge" monitors have become standard equipment at virtually every live performance of any scale worldwide.[3][4]

Pridden has worked both on stage and in the studio with many other of classic rock's major names, as well as with younger acts. He is credited on several of the Who's albums including Live at Leeds, and produced the 1973 Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert.[5] Pridden served as on stage sound engineer from the Who's 1969 tour onwards, and also for David Bowie and Paul McCartney at Live Aid in 1985.

Many of the Who's songs, especially songs from Who's Next and Quadrophenia, need to have pre-recorded tapes when performed live. Pridden once said, "I don't trust machines. Machines go wrong. My heart pounds before I press the button hoping for it to work." Daltrey also said, "Bob has had the tape recorder thrown at him many a time - especially when the thing'd break!."[6]

Pridden is unusual in the music business for having attained recognition for his technical rather than musical input, and is rare in the fact that his name is known when most roadies and engineers are not. Although over sixty years old, he continued to tour with the Who, mixing many of their later live CD/DVD releases, and in 2006 he co-produced Roger Daltrey's vocals on the Who's album Endless Wire.[7][8] Pridden eventually retired from his post as The Who's onstage sound man in 2016.[9]

## See also

[edit]

* The Who's influence on sound
* Marshall Amplification

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bob Pridden". Discogs. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
2. ^ "Article from Pete Townshend's Blog". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
3. ^ Billboard, p. 56, 6 November 1971
4. ^ "PA and Foldback Introduction | The Who Equipment | The Who's PA & Foldback | Whotabs". Thewho.net. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
5. ^ Murphy, Stephen (September 2002). "The Who 2002 North American Tour" (PDF). Smurphco.com. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
6. ^ Classic Albums: The Who – Who's Next \- Eagle Rock (2001)
7. ^ "The Who plan new release for June" \- TODAYshow.com
8. ^ "The Who rock Super Bowl XLIV halftime" Archived 18 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine \- Broadcast Engineering
9. ^ "'That's when They Were on Fire': Inside the Who's 'Live at Leeds'".

## External links

[edit]

* Bob Pridden at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

The Who

* Roger Daltrey
* Pete Townshend

* John Entwistle
* Keith Moon
* Kenney Jones
* Doug Sandom

Studio albums|

* My Generation / The Who Sings My Generation
* A Quick One / Happy Jack
* The Who Sell Out
* Tommy
* Who's Next
* Quadrophenia
* The Who by Numbers
* Who Are You
* Face Dances
* It's Hard
* Endless Wire
* Who

Live albums|

* Live at Leeds
* Who's Last
* Join Together
* Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
* BBC Sessions
* Blues to the Bush
* Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* Live from Toronto
* View from a Backstage Pass
* Greatest Hits Live
* Live at Hull 1970
* Quadrophenia Live in London
* Live at the Fillmore East 1968

Soundtrack albums|

* Tommy
* The Kids Are Alright
* Quadrophenia
* Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who

Compilation albums|

* Magic Bus: The Who on Tour
* Direct Hits
* Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
* Odds & Sods
* The Story of The Who
* Phases
* Hooligans
* Who's Greatest Hits
* Rarities Volume I & Volume II
* The Singles
* The Who Collection
* Who's Missing
* Two's Missing
* Who's Better, Who's Best
* Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
* My Generation: The Very Best of The Who
* 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection
* Encore Series
* The Ultimate Collection
* Then and Now
* The 1st Singles Box
* Greatest Hits
* The Who Hits 50!

Extended plays|

* Ready Steady Who
* Won't Get Fooled Again
* Wire & Glass

Filmography|

* Tommy
* The Kids Are Alright
* Quadrophenia
* Who's Better, Who's Best
* Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live
* Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
* The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* The Who Special Edition EP
* Live in Boston
* Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
* The Vegas Job
* Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
* The Who at Kilburn: 1977
* Quadrophenia Live in London
* Lambert & Stamp

Discographies|

* The Who
* Roger Daltrey
* Pete Townshend
* John Entwistle
* Keith Moon

Tours and
performances|

* 1962–1963 performances
* Tommy Tour
* The Who by Numbers Tour
* 1979 tour (1979 Cincinnati human crush)
* 1980 tour
* 2000 tour
* 2001 The Concert for New York City appearance
* 2003 The 46664 Concert appearance
* 2006–2007 tour
* Quadrophenia and More
* The Who Hits 50!
* Back to the Who Tour 51!
* 2017 Tommy & More
* Moving On! Tour

Musicians|

* Mitch Mitchell
* Julian Covey
* Chris Townson
* Scot Halpin
* John "Rabbit" Bundrick
* Tim Gorman
* Steve "Boltz" Bolton
* Simon Phillips
* Jon Carin
* Steve White
* Brian Kehew
* J. J. Blair
* Danny Thompson
* Simon Townshend
* Jon Button
* Loren Gold
* Frank Simes
* Pino Palladino
* Reggie Grisham
* Morgan Nicholls
* Chris Stainton
* Scott Devours
* Zak Starkey

Associated places|

* Ashdown House, Oxfordshire
* Chapel House, Twickenham
* Holmshurst Manor
* Quarwood
* Ramport Studios
* Shepperton Studios
* Tara, Chertsey
* The Wick

Related|

* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Band members
* Musical equipment
* The Boy Who Heard Music
* Lifehouse
* The Who's Tommy
* Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!
* The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard
* Who Covers Who?
* "A Tale of Two Springfields"
* "In Concert"
* Double O
* The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
* No Plan B
* Kim McLagan
* Richard Barnes
* Dougal Butler
* Chris Charlesworth
* Kit Lambert
* Chris Stamp
* Bill Curbishley
* Track Records
* Shel Talmy

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Eric Clapton

* Albums discography
* Singles discography
* Videography

Studio albums|

* Eric Clapton
* 461 Ocean Boulevard
* There's One in Every Crowd
* No Reason to Cry
* Slowhand
* Backless
* Another Ticket
* Money and Cigarettes
* Behind the Sun
* August
* Journeyman
* From the Cradle
* Pilgrim
* Reptile
* Me and Mr. Johnson / Sessions for Robert J
* Back Home
* Clapton
* Old Sock
* I Still Do
* Happy Xmas
* Meanwhile

Live albums|

* Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
* E. C. Was Here
* Just One Night
* Time Pieces Vol.II Live in the Seventies
* 24 Nights
* Unplugged
* Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies
* One More Car, One More Rider
* Live in San Diego
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019
* To Save a Child: An Intimate Live Concert

Compilations|

* The History of Eric Clapton
* Eric Clapton at His Best
* Clapton
* Steppin' Out
* Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton
* Backtrackin'
* The Cream of Eric Clapton
* Crossroads
* Story
* The Cream of Clapton
* Blues
* Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton
* 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton
* Complete Clapton
* Forever Man

Singles|

* "After Midnight" / "Easy Now"
* "Blues Power" / "Bottle of Red Wine"
* "Let It Rain"
* "I Shot the Sheriff" / "Give Me Strength"
* "Willie and the Hand Jive"
* "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
* "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
* "Hello Old Friend"
* "Carnival"
* "Lay Down Sally" / "Cocaine"
* "Wonderful Tonight"
* "Tulsa Time"
* "Promises" / "Watch Out for Lucy"
* "Early in the Morning (Live)"
* "I Can't Stand It"
* "I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart"
* "Crosscut Saw"
* "Forever Man"
* "See What Love Can Do"
* "It's in the Way That You Use It"
* "Behind the Mask"
* "Tearing Us Apart"
* "Pretending" / "Before You Accuse Me"
* "Hound Dog"
* "Bad Love"
* "Tears in Heaven" / "White Room (Live)"
* "Layla (Acoustic)"
* "Down & Out"
* "Motherless Child" / "Driftin'"
* "Change the World"
* "Born in Time"
* "Circus"
* "My Father's Eyes"
* "Pilgrim"
* "Blue Eyes Blue"
* "(I) Get Lost"
* "Come Rain or Come Shine" / "Ten Long Years"
* "3 O'Clock Blues"
* "Key to the Highway"
* "Worried Life Blues"
* "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It"
* "Every Little Thing" / "No Sympathy"

Soundtracks|

* Edge of Darkness
* Homeboy
* Rush

Concert films|

* Live 1986
* The Cream of Eric Clapton
* Live in Hyde Park
* In Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua
* Sessions for Robert J
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004
* Live at Montreux 1986
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013
* Planes, Trains and Eric
* Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019

Collaborations|

* Riding with the King
* The Road to Escondido
* Live from Madison Square Garden
* Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center
* Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013
* The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale
* "I Wish It Would Rain Down"
* "It's Probably Me"
* "Runaway Train"
* "Love Can Build a Bridge"

Tours|

* Journeyman World Tour
* George Harrison–Eric Clapton 1991 Japanese Tour
* Reptile World Tour
* 2019 Eric Clapton World Tour

Bands|

* The Yardbirds
* John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
* The All-Stars
* Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse
* Cream
* Blind Faith
* Delaney & Bonnie
* Derek and the Dominos

Related|

* Blackie
* Brownie
* The Fool
* Marshall Bluesbreaker
* Signature Stratocaster
* Crossroads Centre
* Crossroads Guitar Festival
* Pattie Boyd
* George Harrison
* Ferrari SP12 EC
* Va Bene
* Wonderful Today
* "Clapton is God"
* On Tour with Eric Clapton
* Nothing but the Blues
* Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template